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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pennillaa Oorile Pirandhu

From Illara Jothi · 1954

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Jikki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Illara Jothi1954

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Penn illatha oorilaeAs if he was born in a town with no women,
Piranthu vanthaar polavaeAs if he came into existence,
Penn illatha oorilaeIn a town without women,
Piranthu vanthaar polavaeAs if he was born,
Penn illatha oorilaeIn a town without women,
Female
Vannam paadum vennilaaOh colorful, singing full moon,
Vannam paadum vennilaaOh colorful, singing full moon,
Vannam paadum vennilaaOh colorful, singing full moon,
Vaaraai seidhi kooruvenCome, I shall tell you the news,
Penn illatha oorilaeIn a town without women,
Female
Paruvam ennum kaatrilaeIn the wind named youthfulness,
Paruvam ennum kaatrilaeIn the wind named youthfulness,
Parakkum gnyaala thaerilaeOn the flying chariot of the world,
Paruvam ennum kaatrilaeIn the wind named youthfulness,
Parakkum gnyaala thaerilaeOn the flying chariot of the world,
Female
Kavinjar vanthaar thozhiyaeThe poet has arrived, my friend,
Kavinjar vanthaar thozhiyaeThe poet has arrived, my friend,
Kaana neeyum odivaa…aa….Run quickly to see him too!
Penn illatha oorilaeIn a town without women,
Female
Thamilil paadum naavilaeIn the tongue that sings sweet Tamil,
Aaaa….aaa….haaa…aaa….aa….aaa…aa….Aaaa...aaa...haaa...aaa...aa...aaa...aa...
Thamilil paadum naavilaeIn the tongue that sings sweet Tamil,
Thamilai theettum kaiyilaeIn the hand that crafts and refines Tamil,
Thamilil paadum naavilaeIn the tongue that sings sweet Tamil,
Thamilai theettum kaiyilaeIn the hand that crafts and refines Tamil,
Female
Amudham kanden thozhiyaeI found divine nectar, my friend,
Amudham kanden thozhiyaeI found divine nectar, my friend,
Arundha neeyum odivaaRun quickly to drink it too,
Penn illatha oorilaeIn a town without women,
Piranthu vanthaar polavaeAs if he was born,
Penn illatha oorilaeIn a town without women,
Female
Vannam paadum vennilaaOh colorful, singing full moon,
Vannam paadum vennilaaOh colorful, singing full moon,
Vannam paadum vennilaaOh colorful, singing full moon,
Vaaraai seidhi kooruvenCome, I shall tell you the news,
Penn illatha oorilaeIn a town without women.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the 1954 Tamil movie 'Illara Jothi', written by Kannadasan, expresses a woman's joy and playful fascination with a grand poet. She calls out to the singing full moon and her companion, describing how the poet behaves as though he lived in a world devoid of women before meeting her. She portrays him riding in the chariot of the world on the winds of youth, delivering poetic brilliance through his refined mastery of the Tamil language, which she likens to divine nectar.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Penn illatha oorilae piranthu vanthaar polavae

Compares the poet's innocence or ignorance of female presence to someone born in a land without women.

Uruvagamm (Metaphor)

Paruvam ennum kaatrilae

Metaphorically equates youth to a rushing wind ('Paruvam ennum kaatrilae').

Personification

Vannam paadum vennilaa

The moon is personified as a colorful singer that listens to news ('Vannam paadum vennilaa').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thamilil paadum naavilae / Thamilai theettum kaiyilae

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Th' in Tamilil and Thamilai.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Illara Jothi' (1954) featured music composed by G. Ramanathan and K. V. Mahadevan. This track showcases lyricist Kannadasan's early signature style of integrating rich Tamil classical vocabulary and romantic imagery into film song lyrics.

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